LinkedIn Learning, previously known as Lynda, is LinkedIn’s online learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills. With over 15,000 courses, LinkedIn Learning aims to help professionals gain new skills and advance their careers.
Many professionals use LinkedIn Learning to build their skills and make themselves more attractive candidates to potential employers. A common question is whether recruiters and hiring managers can see the LinkedIn Learning courses that job seekers have taken. The short answer is maybe. Here is a more in-depth look at how much of your LinkedIn Learning activity recruiters can see and how to make the most of your learning for your job search.
What Parts of LinkedIn Learning Are Visible to Recruiters?
The visibility of your LinkedIn Learning activity depends on your account settings and sharing preferences. Here are the main components recruiters may be able to see:
Completed Courses
Recruiters cannot see the full list of every LinkedIn Learning course you have completed. The only courses visible to recruiters are those you choose to showcase on your LinkedIn profile in the Accomplishments section. You can manually add completed LinkedIn Learning courses here to highlight for recruiters.
Learning Checklists
LinkedIn Learning has curated checklists like Become a Data Analyst and Master Excel that include suggested courses to take. Recruiters cannot see if you are actively completing a Learning Checklist. The only checklist visibility is if you manually add the completed checklist to your Accomplishments section.
Learning Video Progress
Recruiters have no insight into your learning video progress for LinkedIn Learning courses. They cannot see what percentage of a course you have completed or how many videos you have watched. Your learning progress is private.
Course Certificates
Upon completing some LinkedIn Learning courses, you can download a certificate of completion. You have the option to showcase these certificates in your Accomplishments section for recruiters to see. Alternatively, you can omit course certificates from your profile if you prefer to keep your LinkedIn Learning activity private.
Learning Activity Data
Recruiters do not have access to detailed data like how many courses or videos you have viewed in LinkedIn Learning. Your full learning activity across the platform remains private.
How to Share LinkedIn Learning Course Details
While most of your LinkedIn Learning activity remains unseen to recruiters browsing your profile, you do have options to selectively showcase courses:
Add Completed Courses to Accomplishments
The main way to share your LinkedIn Learning courses is to manually add them to your Accomplishments section. You can pick and choose which completed courses to highlight for recruiters. This allows you to tailor the skills and qualifications you want to promote.
Display Certificates of Completion
If you want to provide visible proof that you completed a LinkedIn Learning course, you can add earned course completion certificates to your Accomplishments section for recruiters to review. This can give extra credibility to your listed skills.
Mention Relevant Courses in Your Profile Description
When customizing your LinkedIn profile summary, you can describe the key LinkedIn Learning courses you have taken to build skills for the roles you are targeting. For example, you can write “Completed LinkedIn Learning courses in social media strategy and Google Analytics to enhance my digital marketing skills.”
Link to Profile in Learning Course Discussions
Some LinkedIn Learning courses have discussion forums where learners can engage with each other. When participating in a course forum, you can include a link to your full LinkedIn profile for visibility.
How Recruiters Use LinkedIn Learning Insights
While recruiters cannot see your personal LinkedIn Learning activity, LinkedIn does provide general insights into the most in-demand skills based on Learning usage:
LinkedIn Learning Skill Assessments
LinkedIn’s algorithm analyzes billions of interactions and profiles to identify the skills employers are seeking most across the platform. The most in-demand skills highlighted in the LinkedIn Learning Skill Assessments tool can help recruiters source candidates and job seekers focus their training in relevant areas.
LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report
LinkedIn releases an annual report detailing the top skills employees are learning through LinkedIn Learning. Recruiters can leverage these insights to understand rising skill trends and gaps in the workforce.
Role-Based Learning Playlists
LinkedIn Learning curates role-based playlists like Customer Service Representative and Project Manager to suggest skills needed for specific jobs. Recruiters can review these playlists to evaluate candidate alignment to the desired skills for open roles.
Learning Data by Industry and Job Function
LinkedIn provides insights into the most popular courses and skills learned across different industries, company sizes, and job functions. Recruiters can use this data to align training recommendations with job opportunities.
Should You Share Your LinkedIn Learning Activity?
Given the limited visibility of your LinkedIn Learning profile, is it worth sharing your course activity with recruiters? Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros of Sharing
– Demonstrates self-motivation to build job skills
– Highlights specific qualifications listed in the job description
– Provides credibility through course completion certificates
– Shows investment in continuing education for your career
Cons of Sharing
– Time-consuming to manually update accomplishments section
– Adds length to an already robust profile
– Not all courses may be relevant to your target role
– Maintains an element of privacy by not broadcasting all activity
Tips to Showcase Your Relevant Learning
In most cases, thoughtfully sharing a few relevant LinkedIn Learning courses can strengthen your candidacy without oversharing. Here are some best practices:
– Prioritize courses that align directly with the job description
– Spotlight transferable skills like leadership, analytics, and communication
– Be concise and only feature your most recent or advanced courses
– Use bulleted lists if you want to highlight numerous courses
– Link to certificates proving your course completions
– Don’t feel obligated to list every single learning accomplishment
Overall, you should aim to showcase the LinkedIn Learning achievements that demonstrate your motivation to develop the skills needed to excel in your next role. Avoid including excessive or irrelevant courses that may dilute your brand or qualifications. With a strategic approach, your learning profile can become a valuable asset for your job search.
Conclusion
While recruiters have limited visibility into your full LinkedIn Learning profile, you can choose to selectively showcase completed courses, certificates, and skills gained to strengthen your candidacy. Prioritize sharing the achievements most relevant to your target job opportunities. With the right strategy, highlighting your LinkedIn Learning accomplishments can enhance your personal brand and help you stand out from the competition. The key is being intentional about what you share to make your learning work for you during your job search.
